The North American Folk Alliance Special

The North American Folk Alliance Special – this week on Public Radio[discuss this week’s show]

A special edition of Art of the Song celebrating the North American Folk Alliance’s twentieth birthday. We visit the attendees of the annual conference in this unique cultural habitat: the hallways, showcase concerts, and the hotel rooms turned into listening rooms as they mix and mingle, make industry connections, life long friends and heck of a lot of amazing music.

Marc Black

Marc Black takes us on a fascinating journey through his creative life and into the world of his recent CD and DVD project Stroke of Genius. Inspired by the poetry of Black’s life long friend Dan Mountain we learn how creative expression was a necessary component in the healing process following Mountain’s near catastrophic stroke.

Eliza Gilkyson

Award Winning star of Americana music, with a family legacy of songwriting and the wit of a political satirist, Eliza Gilkyson talks about creativity, spirituality and her new CD Beautiful World

Bruce Cockburn

Canadian guitar virtuoso and lyrical genius Bruce Cockburn talked with us at the Moab Folk Festival about the ebb and flow of creative process. Growing from a deep root of spiritual searching, Bruce’s process circles back around to the solo tour and the songs

Loreena McKennitt

Internationally acclaimed, self managed, self produced Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt talks with us about her 2006 release An Ancient Muse. Intimate and inspiring, Loreena talks with us in depth about her process and the manifestation of her creative gifts.

John Flynn

Celebrating our 200th broadcast and the Phillies Winnng the World Series! John Flynn is pictured here playing for the Phillies in his home town of Philadelphia, PA on Day One of the 2007 NLDS. Graduating with a degree in political science from Temple University, John Flynn is a singer songwriter with the gift to capture the heart of the human condition. Arlo Guthrie says of John, “More than just a good song writer, performer, or guitar player, John Flynn is a friend because he actually does the kinds of things to help make the world a little better.”

Sid Selvidge

Internationally known executive producer of Beale Street Caravan, Sid Selvidge is a walking, talking lexicon of the musical history found in Memphis, TN. An accomplished singer, musician and songwriter, Sid tells us about growing up in the birthplace of Rock n Roll.

Tish Hinojosa in Concert

With her clear, compelling voice backlit by her rock solid guitar phrasing, Tish Hinojosa’s songwriting shines. A special offering for Art of the Song, Tish joins us in our living room for an intimate house concert, taking us on a journey through her musical heritage through song and story. The program includes highlights from an interview with Art of the Song at the Boston Folk Festival in 2006.

Pierce Pettis

I can’t say it better than this! “Pierce Pettis, adored by both critics and public alike, is one of this generation’s most masterful songwriters. His music is distinguished by his uncanny ability to capture universals in human experience by drawing on the humor and trials in daily life. Pettis’ music can simultaneously pull on our hearts and keep us laughing.”

David Olney

A songwriter’s songwriter, David Olney has written for four decades providing hits for Emmy Lou Harris (Deeper Well), Linda Ronstadt and Del McCoury. One reviewer described him “like a jalapeno in a bowl of vanilla pudding.” David returns to the Moab Folk Festival this year as winner of the People’s Choice Award from 2007.

Red Molly

This sweetheart of a trio features the stellar musicianship of Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello. Their harmonies, tight arrangements of favorite tunes and passion that they bring to the music is inspiring. They talked with us about their creative process, collectively and individually, at the Boston Folk Fest in September 2006.

Kathy Mattea

West Virginia born, Nashville song~catcher Kathy Mattea joins us on Art of the Song this week. She talks about the creative process behind her recent release Coal. Deeply personal, tune in for an intimate conversation with Kathy about her new discoveries as a singer and her life purpose as a musician…

Si Kahn

Working tirelessly as a labor and community organizer, Si Kahn has been writing songs that inspire, excite and commemorate people for over thirty years. He spoke with us about his life’s work using creativity as a tool for change and inspiration while in Memphis, TN at the National Folk Alliance.

Robert Mirabal

Grammy Award winner Robert Mirabal talks with us about the deep bond between creative process and place. Born and raised on the Taos Pueblo, his music spans tradition and pop culture with inspired poetry and groove.

Michael Hearne

The quintessential southwestern country picker, Michael Hearne talks with us about his passion for the landscape, the people, and the art of New Mexico, and how they inform his songwriting. We’ll hear about the upcoming Big Barn Dance Festival in Taos Sept 5,6 & 7, 2008, where you can witness first hand the fact that there is no such thing as a cranky two-stepper.

Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines

This Texas based team has produced some of the most unique and infectious music around. With her unflagging love of Creative expression, Terri talks with us about her work finding her true musical path, her work with Lloyd, and their workshops on songwriting and creative process.

Zoe Lewis

The mistress of vaudeville for the new millennium, Zoe Lewis brings world music together with old school performance chops and poignant lyrics that will have you splitting your sides with glee.

Mary Gauthier

Chair ofFrom New Orleans to New England to Nashville, Mary Gauthier’s fearless journey to the heart is one paved with inspired lyric and musical phrasing. She talked with us about the life saving effect that the process of creativity has held for her.

Junior Burke

Chair of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. Junior Burke brings a very special perspective to the craft of songwriting and where it meets universal creative process. His CD spans blues, country, folk and a little poetry thrown in. Tune in to learn how you can join the Poets Party!

Show #186

Martha Scanlan joins us with her skill and insight about creativity and Old Time Music. Heard on the soundtrack of the movie Cold Mountain Martha talks with passion about discovering her musical path in Eastern Tennessee.

Jim Photoglo

Veteran Nashville singer songwriter Jim Photoglo brings his creative experience to Art of the Song with wonderful stories about his days in LA with the Improv group The Groundlings, his love of cooking and music.

Catie Curtis

Boston based singer songwriter Catie Curtis talks about the creative process of songwriting, motherhood and other joys!

Song of America

In celebration of July 4th we explore the creation of the extraordinary compilation set Song of America, the product of a creative brainstorm between Attorney General Janet Reno and her nephew, songwriter/producer Ed Pettersen. This beautiful retrospective of American history through song was produced by Ed Pettersen, David Macias & Janet Reno, with research by Deane Root from the Center for American Music at University of Pittsburgh. Featuring a star cast of musicians coupled with an inspired selection of songs, the CD breathes new insight and meaning into our collective legacy of music and history.

Chad & Jeremy

Who better to celebrate the Summer than Brit invasion pop legends Chad & Jeremy, who’s tune A Summer Song lights up a generation. They talk with us about life as a duo at the top of stardom during the 60’s, Jeremy’s acting career and Chad’s recording studio. Currently touring with new songs & fresh takes on classics, the duo brings wonderful insight to a powerful time.

Arlo Guthrie

A long conversation featuring the insights of Arlo Guthrie as he muses on family, creativity, music, turning 60 and the release of In Times Like These recorded with the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra.

Ali Eskandarian

Ali Eskandarian’s transnational upbringing makes him a prescient voice for our era. The Iranian-American troubadour draws upon influences as discrete as American folk, rock and traditional Persian music to craft songs about love, travel, politics and loneliness… [visit Ali on MySpace]

Otis Taylor

Blues man with a legendary sense of place talks with us about reclaiming the banjo, and the importance of the creative process.Michael Shorr explores blues notes with a Mississippi John Hurt tune, and Michael Shenkman delivers the final essay on Break Out Creatives and the Creative Mystic… [visit Otis’s website]

Tom Kimmel

Master genre crossing singer songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, Tom Kimmel talks with us about the balance of Business and Creative Process. Song Analyst Michael Shorr offers songwriting tips on how to highlight the title of a song using rhyme and Don Richmond reminds us of our responsibility to create…[visit Tom’s website]

Natalia Zukerman

Classically trained as musician, a smokin’ bottle neck slide country jazz guitar player, and muralist, Zukerman challenges listeners to break out of patterns and rhythms that hold them back from reaching the truth. Michael Shorr explores Amy Correria techniques and Michael Shenkman returns to the Creativity Corner with a third essay on Creative Archetypes.[visit Natalia’s website]

Jonatha Brooke

Folk Rocking with a dose of pop cross-over, Jonatha Brooke brings her exuberance to Art of the Song with a long conversation about her creative process. Michael Shorr explores Don Conoscenti’s extraordinary song The Other Side and Eric Maisel takes us to Paris with Creativity For Life...

Jaime Michaels

A journeyman in the music world, Jaime lives in Santa Fe, NM. Having spent his early years as a professional musician playing in cover bands, he has been exploring his own writing and creative expression as a solo acoustic artist. Songwriting tips from Song Analyst Michael Shorr’s Songwriter’s Toolbox, and Michael Shenkman introduces Creative Archetypes for the Creativity Corner…

Corinne West

She learned about the importance of communication early in her musical career when she joined a nomadic group of artists traveling around the country in a converted school bus. She was 15 and dropped out of school to tour the country. Corinne's music is electrifying, and all acoustic! Songwriting tips from Song Analyst Michael Shorr explores plot development in Townes Van Zandts Tecumseh Valley, and Michael Shenkman introduces Creative Archetypes for the Creativity Corner...

David Wilcox

We met David Wilcox in Santa Cruz, CA and as we began the interview he asked, "Do you mind if I just ramble for a while about Creativity?" Intriguing, complex and right up our alley we present this Soliloquy to the the Creative Process essentially uncut. Features new tunes and favorite recordings of the master of the altered tuning.

Buzz Cason

Legendary performer and songwriter, Buzz Cason's career includes being a Cricket with Buddy Holly, a Chipmunk, and cuts by the Beatles, Pearl Jam and U2. Cason recently authored "Living the Rock n' Roll Dream," a rare portrait from the inside of the music business during the birth of Rock n' Roll. Songwriting tips from Song Analyst Michael Shorr about writing a rhythm hook and Creativity Corner features a letter from listener Jeanne Combo about being the best you can be by letting go of the past...

Susan Werner

Chicago based singer songwriter Susan Werner finds all the Joy in Gospel music, Song Analyst Michael Shorr has tips for Song writers about chord voicings and Eric Maisel discusses Creativity For Life...

Jenny Bird

Taos NM based singer songwriter Jenny Bird started performing in Europe when she just 10 years old. Now she creates with vision and passion on the wide open mesas of Northern New Mexico.

Danny O'Keefe

The voice who brought us "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" talks about creativity and activism. O'Keefe's company Songbird raises awareness and much needed funds to help preserve songbird habitats in coffee growing communities by promoting fair trade, shade grown coffees.

Ian Tyson

Canada's walking legend talks with us about the deep ties between ranching, horses and songwriting. Tom Russell has a cameo with a story about the day in Greenwich Village when Ian & Sylvia heard Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" for the first time.

Cosy Sheridan & TR Ritchie at Home

Cosy and TR joined us for our House Concert series in northern New Mexico for a wonderful evening of song and laughter. Give a listen and imagine yourself in a "cosy" adobe house with about 25 folks enjoying this fine concert!

Terry Garthwaite

Terry Garthwaite is an internationally known singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and teacher. Her recording career dates back to the late 1960s when she and Toni Brown formed the rock group Joy of Cooking. She recorded several albums with the band, and then a dozen others by herself or in collaboration with other jazz and blues musicians.

Freebo

From bass player/band member with Bonnie Raitt for a decade to countless studio sessions and tours with artists ranging from John Mayall, CSN, Maria Muldaur and Ringo Starr, as well as tuba performances with Dr. John and the legendary Spinal Tap, Freebo has achieved status and respect in a creative and highly competitive field. Not satisfied with simply resting on his laurels as a top sideman, however, Freebo has continued to push his creative envelope, and has evolved into an award winning singer/songwriter with three solo CDs to his credit.